Suspension device for electric-railway conductors



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shea 1.

G. J. VAN DEPOELE.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR ELECT-RIO RAILWAY GONDUGTORS. No. 396,312. Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

Wdmeoqeoa I gnaw V007 742 M Chades JfVanDepoele N. PETERS, Phma-Ulhamphu'. Wnlhingmm u. c

(No Model.)

, I 2 Sheets-Sheet .2. C. J. VAN DEPOELE.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY GONDUUTORS.

No. 396,312. Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

Charles J VanDepaa Ze arm/m1,

NJPEYERS. PhcwLilhugnphar. Wnhinghm. D. C.

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC-RAILWAY CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 396,312, dated January 15, 1889. Application filed November 7, 1888. Serial No. 290l1'7'7. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspension Devices for Electric-Railway Conductors, of which the following is a description.

My invention is an improved device for suspending, supporting,- and insulating the conductors of electric railways of that class in which the current is supplied from an overhead conductor to a motor upon the moving vehicle.

In an application filed by me in the United States Patent Office on August-22, 1888, Serial No. 283,445, I have shown, described, and broadly claimed a device for this purpose, and

the present invention relates to the same general style of suspender, but includes an improved form of construction, whereby it is adapted to other and additional uses.

It is sometimes impracticable to place the posts to which the cross-wires supporting the arched suspender are attached directly opposite each other, but yet it is desirable to have the conductors keep a perfectly straight line. 111 my previous application the conductor is shown as extending in a direction at right angles to the direction of the cross-wires; but

my present invention includes, in connection with the bridge under which the conductor by insulated connections, so that the supporting device will not only sustain the conductor in desired position, but also insulate it from the cross-wires and other sustaining-connections.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the an rangement where the poles are set at an angle to each other. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the bridge, the car being removed. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a form of the invention designed for use where the conductors pass from one street to another or around curves. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view in elevation showing a slight modification of the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a form of suspender in which the conductor-sustaining part is insulated from the arch by which it is supported. Fig. 8 is an elevation of what is shown in Fig.7. Fig. 9 is a view in elevation showing a slightly-different form of insulated suspender. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the device seen in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of an insulating-suspender of somewhat different construction. Fig. 12 is an elevation of what is seen in Fig. 11, to-- wires a a and the extremities of the arch B;-

but these insulators may be dispensed with and the cross-wires attached directly to the arch. In this case insulation is interposed between the conductorsupporting ears and the sustaining-arches, as will appear. Upon the left-hand side of Fig. 1 I have shown means for adjusting the tension of the crosswires c, which consist of a screw-threaded bifurcated rod or hook, I), passing through the pole, having a nut, 0, upon one end, the .wire a being secured to an insulator attached between the forks of the rod or placed upon the hook. 3y adjusting the nut c the tension of thewires a may be increased or diminished. An ordinary turn-buckle may, however, be used to adjust the wire instead of the means 5 shown. The insulators are preferably provided with umbrella-shaped coverings, as (I (l, to keep oft the rain from the ends of the cross-wi res.

The suspender 3 is on the same general form of construction as that shown in my aforesaid application, though differing therefrom -in various details of construction. It consists of an arch, 1 to the ends of which the cross-wires are attached. This arch has I 5 a central opening formed in it, through which a bolt, 6, is adapted to pass. The under side. of the arch at its central portion is made flat, so as to form a bearingsurface, and the bridge may be insulated from the ear, as by a washer or disk, 13*, of insulating material.

' interposed between them. The ear F in the aforesaid application was rigidly secured to the central part of the arch, said ear being tapered toward its extremities and grooved z 5 upon its under side, the conductor to be suspended being firmly secured to the groove in the ear.

The invention shown and described in the previous application was best adapted for use 0 where the poles were arranged directly opposite each other, and hence the cross-wires were directly at right angles to the conductor and exerted a direct pull upon the same; but in order to accomplish the objects stated 3 5 herein I form the ear F flat upon its upper part and provided with a bolt, 2, adapted to fit the central opening in the arch B. A nut, f, fits the end of the bolt 6, and it will be obvious that by this construction the sus- 40 pending arch maybe secured to the ear at any angle to the conductor, thus enabling the same to be supported equally well when the poles are arranged at an angle as when directly opposite each other.

5 It will be readily understood that I do not limit myself to the particular adjusting device shown in. the drawings, as the construetion might be varied to a great extent with out departing "from the spirit of my invention.

As shown and described. in an application filed by me on the 10th day of September, 1888, Serial No. 285,072, when the conductors pass around curves it is not necessary to use the double-arched suspender. Asthere shown,

' the cross-wire (I. is secured at one end only of 'the suspender, the other end. of said wire a being attached to a cable stretched between poles arranged on diagon all y-opposite corners.

Thus by arranging a number of the suspenders around a curve they would exert a side pull on the conductor and practically divide it up into a number 01": straight sections. The adjustable suspender herein shown enables me to further equalize the strain on curves by suitably locating and properly directing the suspenders and cross-wires.

In Figs. 4, 5, and ti I have shown airadaptation of my present invention to curves, the construction in Figs. 4 and 5 being the same as that shown in the other figures, except that one side of the arch is cut away. In Fig. (3, however, the construction is slightly different, the arch being formed as in the previous figures; but the ear F has a horizontal flange upon which the end of the arch rests, the two being adjustably secured together by means of a bolt passing. therethrough,clampin g the ear, the insulation, and the arch securely together. I

As seen in Figs. 7 and S, the insulation is more complete and thorough than that shown in the preceding figures, and it is furthermore protected by a hood or cover. II represents an arch-suspender similar in its general construction to the arch 13. (Seen in planin Fig. 2.) To the extremities of the arch II the cross-wires a a are secured, as in the other instances. F represents an ear similar to the one shown in Fig. 3. The ear F is secured to the arch II by a bolt, I, which said bolt passes through insulation, i, by which it is isolated from the metallic portion of the suspender II. An inverted cup, J, also of insulating material, is located between the ear F and the under side of the arch, so as to effectually prevent access of water. The bolt I is continued upward and receives at its upper extremity a hood or cap, K, of insulating material, by which water is deflected away from the central portions of theinsulator. Vith this construction it will be understood that the attachment between the cond11etor-supporting ear F and the arch II is adjustable, so that the said portions may be put up and. secured in any desired positions.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is seen a slightly-different form of the construction just described. The arch II, ear F, and insulating-cup J are the same as in Figs. 7 and S; but instead of the cap K, supported upon an upward extension of the belt I, a bolt, 71 is provided, which bolt extends upward through the arch, from which it is insulated, and through an insulatingdisk or saucer, 7.1, the saucer k and ear F, carrying the conductor, being firmly secured to the suspender II by a nut, h, on the outer extremity of the bolt 71, which nut has a solid bearing upon a metallic washer, 7L2, on the upper surface of the inverted saucer 7a. This makes a very strong and simple construction, and may be preferred in some instances. A cap, L, of insulating material may be fitted over the nut 7b to protect the same from the weather.

In Figs. 11 and 12 a slightly-different construction is illustrated, in which an arch, M, is formed with a central inverted-cup-shaped portion, 112, the arch and the cup being desirably cast in a single piece to give the necessary strength and rigidity. The conductor (3 is attached to an ear, F, which ear is supported by a shank, O, secured at its lower extremity to the central portion of the ear F- as, for. example, by a bolt, m, passing through the ear and the lower portion of the shank O; The upper part of the shank O is formed or provided with an extension, 0. The shank O is fitted loosely into a block, Q, of glass, porcelain, or other good insulating material, in which it is secured by the extension 0 on its upper end. The insulating-block Q is secured within the cup on by a filling of insulating material, such as sulphur, bitumen, plaster-of-paris, or any-other insulating material that can be used while in a plastic condition. \Vith this construction the shank 0 will constitute a swivel by which the conductor will be movably supported, although, of course, it may be rigidly secured in its supporting-block Q, if desired. An extensiomR, is desirably formed on the top of the inverted cup on, in which a guard-wire, 'r, is desirably carried.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A device for suspending electric conductors, consisting of an arch secured to a transverse support or supports, and an ear or bail connected to the conductor to be suspended and adjustably secured to the arch substantially as described.

2. A device for suspending electric conductors, consisting of an arch secured to transverse supports, and an ear or bail depending from said arch and connected to the conductor to be suspended, said arch bein adj ustably secured to the ear and insulated therefrom, substantially as described.

A device for suspending electric conductors, consisting of an arch secured to transverse supports, an ear or bail depending therefrom, the upper end of said ear forming-a bearing upon which the arch rests, and a bolt secured to said ear and passing through the arch, whereby the same may be adjusted, and insulating material between the ear and its support, substantially as described.

4. A device for suspending electric conductors, consisting of'an arch secured to a transverse support or supports, an ear depending therefrom supporting the electric conductor, said ear having a horizontal flange formed at or near its upper part upon which the'a-rch is adapted to rest, and abolt passing through said flange and arch, whereby the same is rendered adjustable, substantially as described.

5. A device for suspending electric conductors, consisting of a metallic arch spanning the conductors to be supported, an ear 'attached to said conductor, insulating material secured to the arch, and means securing the conductor-sup'porting ears to the said insulating material, substantially as described.

6. A device for supporting electric conductors, consisting of an arch supported so as to present its opening below, an ear secured to the conductor to be carried, means for connecting the ear and arch, and an insulating medium interposed between the ear and the arch to prevent passage of the main current to the supporting devices, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN W. GIBBONEY CHAS. L. OECHSNER. 

